BJ Mnyanda Primary boasts colourful new wellness centre

2015-08-26 06:00

Chardé Meyer

Principal of BJ Mnyanda Primary School, Simphiwe Lucas (middle), is pleased with his school’s new wellness centre and gives his nod of approval for the paint job done by the staff of the Missionvale Care Centre. The staff, Michelle Verreyners (in fro

LEARNERS and staff at the BJ Mnyanda Primary School in KwaZakhele are bursting with pride about their brand new wellness centre.

The wellness centre, which is a colourful and updated version of a sickbay, was the brain child of the school’s principal, Simphiwe Lucas. The opening of this wellness centre, which took place on August 11, has been in the pipeline from the beginning of the school year.

“We always knew we wanted to have a separate building for our sick learners. We used to make use of a classroom that doubled as a store room and that was not conducive for children who are sick,” Lucas said.

In order to make the wellness centre a reality, funds had to be raised in the form of shows, hosted by the school, as well as donations. The centre, which is made up of two rooms- one for counselling and another for sick learners to rest- was beautified by the staff of the Missionvale Care Centre.

Nurses from the centre tended to the aesthetics of the wellness centre, by painting it in bright colours. The care centre staff also donated paint, bedding and a first-aid medical kit to the school.

Annie van der Merwe, one of the nurses at the care centre, said that children needed to be looked after from a young age and that is why she supported Lucas’ initiative. The wellness centre does not only serve as a sickbay, but also a place where learners can work closely with counsellors.

Lucas has enlisted the help of the Department of Education and Social Development to improve his school and its learners. A learner support agent (LSA) has also been appointed to the school who will visit two to three times a week, for the entire school day, to see to the psychological needs of the learners.

“In the end, we do not just want to develop our children academically and physically, but also psychologically. So doing, we send them out into the world as well-rounded children,” the proud principal said

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